New name, new focus, new identity

By: Bob Ulrich

What in the world is the Global Tire Expo — powered by TIA? We know it will be held with the Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, Show during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas, Nev., in November.

We also know that TIA (Tire Industry Association) has been an integral part of the SEMA Show since 1997. It sponsored the “Performance Tires & Wheels” section in 2008 and the “Tires, Wheels & Equipment” section in 2009.

TIA announced that the Global Tire Expo will be a little different. It will be open to all things tire-related except wheels, which has its own dedicated trade show floor section.

I asked Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of TIA, to break down his new show, word by word.

Global. “We’re a global industry, and we have such a strong presence from foreign countries,” he said.

That applies to the SEMA Show as well. In 2009, foreign buyers represented 24% of the SEMA Show’s 50,000 buyers, up 5% compared to 2008. They also represented 140 countries. And their interest in tires is considerable (I’ll get to that).

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Related Topics: Bob Ulrich, Editorial

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